Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-06-05
CHAPTER NIN.
HANS coErzGE COMES To PRETORIA.

HANS CuErTEE COMES To PRETORIA.
When once he had taken the turn, Johns
recovery was rapid. Naturally of a vigor-
Gus constitution, when the artery had fair
~ united he 500 made up for the great
lass OF blood which he had undergone, and
II little more than a mont from the date of
his wound was, physically, almost ~ good
L man aS ever.
One %mOrning-it was the Goth of March
Jess and Ire were sitting III 1.-The l'ala-
tial' garden. John WIS lying in Il long
came deck chair that jess had borrowed or
stolen out OF n of the deserted houses,
and smoking n pipe.
They sat III silence; John pulling away
at his pipe, and Jess, her work-onc of his
socks-lying idly upon her knees, with her
hands claspcd over it and her eyes fixed
upon the lights and shadows that played
with broad fingers upon the wooded slopes
beyond.
John finished his pipe and, although she
did not know it, was Watching her face,
which, now that she was off her guard, was
no longer impaSSivp, but seemed to mirror
the tender and glorious hope that was
floating through her mind. Her lips were
slightly parted, and her wide eyes
were full Of n soft, strange light,
while on the whole countenance was
q look Of eager thought aud spiritu,
allied desire such rs he had known pOr-
trayed in ancient masterpieces upon the
face of the virgin mother. Jess was not,
except Us regards her eyes and hair, even 4
good looking person. But at that moment
John thought that her face was touched
with Il diyiner beauty than he had yet seen
on the face of woman. 1t thrilled him and
appealed to him, not as B~eSsic's beauty
had appealed, but to that other side OF his
nature, OF which Jess alone could turn the
KEY. Her face was more like the face of a
spirit than a human beings, and it almost
frightened him to see il.
"Je@.n he said at last, what are you
thinking OFF,
She started, and her face resumed it,
normal air. 1t was ~ though a mask had
been suddenly set upon it.
"Why do YOU ask ~ she said.
because | want 10 know. never saw
you look like that before"
She laughed Il little.
"You would think me foolish if ! told
you what ! was thinking about. Never
MUD, it has gone wherever thoughts 90.
| will tell you what | am thinking about
now, which is-that it is about time WI
get out at this place. My uncle and Bessie
will he half distracted.
We've had more than two months of il
now. The relieving column can't be far
OIL" suggested John; for these foolish
people in Pretoria lahOrcd under a firm
belief that one line morning they would he
gratilied with the sight of Il light dancing
down a long line OF British bayonctS, and
of Beers cooperating in every direction
hka storm clouds before the sun.
Jess shook her head. She was beginning
To lose faith in relieving columns that
never camc.
'If we do not help ourselves, my opin-
ion is that We may stop here till We are
starved ont, which we pretty well are.
However, it's no use talking about it, 50
I'm oil 10 get our %rItiouS. Let's see, have
you got everything You want;'
"Evcrything, thanEs.'
"Wcll, then. mind you stop quiet till |
come back
"Why, laughed John, 81 am m'strong Us
Il horse
POSSIBLY; but that is what the doctor
said, you know. Good -hyr'' And .lrS9
took her big basket and started on what
John used Ia ic"hIy call her rational IN
dcrtaking."
She had not got fifty PAGES from the door
before she suddenly caught sight of a ia
miliar form seated on u familiar pony.
The form was tat and ioviai looking, and
the pony was small hut also fat. II was
Hans Coctzcc none other.
Jess could hardly believe her eyes.
Old Hans in Pretoria! What could it
''Om Cortzec. Om Coetzcc!" she called,
as he came amhliug past her, evidently
making for the Heidelberg roId.
The old Rocr pulled up his pony, and
glzrd around him in 4 mystliicd way.
"IIcrc, Om COctzcc! Here
"hllrmmachicr!' he said Jerking his
pony round. ITS you, Miss Jess, is it:
Now who would have thought OF seeing
You here"
"who would have thought of seeing
yog hcrc?' She answered.
ayes, yes; it seems strange; | dare say
that il seems strange. liut am 4 mes
scnrcr of peace, like Uncle N0ah'1 dove in
the ark, YOU know. The fact is and he
around 10 see il anybody were
listening, 81 have been sent by the gov
eminent to arrange about IN exchange OF
'"Thc government, What govcrnmcnt?'
''What government? Why, the trium-
;iratc. of course whom may the Lord
bless and prosper rs he did Jonah when he
on the wall of the city,
Joshua, when he walked around the
wall ri the city, suggested Jess. Jonah
down tn" whales throat"
"ih! to he sure. so he did, and blew a
trumpet inside. | remember now; though
am sure ] don't know how he did IT.
The fact is that orr glorious victories have
mite confused me. All, what 4 thing 1t
5 to he 4 patriot, The dear Lord makes
strong the arm of the patriot, and takes
are that he hits his man well IN the mId-
He 5000.
''You have turned wonderfully patriotic
III of a sudden, ON Coetzee,' said jess,
''Yes, missile, yes; ! am a patriot to the
none of my back. | hate the English
,oyernmcnt: d-u the English govern
nent, Let us have our land back and
volksraad. Almighty. saw who
was in the right at Laing's Neck
here, Nh, those poor rooihatties.
.bot four of them myself; two rs they
.amc ND and two rs they ran away, and
last one went head over heels like a
,rck. Poor man. | cried for him after
ord. did not like going TO the fight at
N Int Frank Muller sent TO me aud said
hat if | did not 90 he would have me
hot, All. he is n devil of Il man, that
rank Muller! So | went, and when
how the dear Lord had put it into the
,eart of the English general to he a bigger
even that day than he is every day,
md 70 try and drive rs ont of Laing's Neck
yitb q thousand of his poor ro~oihaatleS,
hen. | tell you. Isaw where the right lay,
nd | said. On the English govern
nent, What is the English government
Ioinr here and after Ingogo said 1t
r
7..Never mind all that. ON Coetzee,
,rote in Jess. Il have heard you tell a
r - ,,.rIan5 won will I